Ted Leo Joined by Friends for Covers in Chicago

What started out as a routine set by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists at Chicago's Bottom Lounge turned into a punk rock karaoke free-for-all when they were joined on stage during the encore by Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus for a rousing cover of the Dead Kennedys' 'Nazi Punks F--- Off,' and later by Damon Locks of the Eternals for a cover of the Fugazi classic 'Merchandise.'

Before the punk rock encore took place though, Ted Leo and his Pharmacists blazed through a set that mostly consisted of songs from their brand new album, 'The Brutalist Bricks.' Although it only just came out this past week, the majority of the crowd knew every word and sang along excitedly to songs like 'The Mighty Sparrow,' 'Ativan Eyes' and 'Bottled In Cork.'

It was the older favorites, however, that elicited a greater response from the packed room, as they danced and pumped their fists along to songs like 'Little Dawn,' 'Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?' and 'High Party.' Even the front row packed with teenage girls shed their inhibitions to mouth every word of 'Me and Mia' along with Leo.

Ever the jovial frontman, Leo was in great spirits on stage as he bantered with the crowd and high-fived a fan. "We brought a few friends with us," said Leo, gesturing to the four bumblebee piñatas that sat on each corner of the stage, representing the bumblebee-friendly artwork for 'The Brutalist Bricks.' Later, while guitarist James Canty was changing a broken guitar string, Leo took the opportunity to play a solo cover of the Pogues' 'Dirty Old Town.' Carrying the St. Patrick's Day theme even further, Leo announced that they were "embracing the pan-Celtic theme of the evening" before describing the next song, 'A Bottle Of Buckie,' as being about "something that happened in Glasgow."

Everyone in green t-shirts was given another treat when Leo appeared back on stage by himself for the first song of the encore, doing an entirely a capella version of an old Irish song about an Irish Republican Army volunteer named Joe McCann. The crowd clapped along and filled in the gaps as Leo stumbled through the lyrics.

After a stellar performance of 'Timorous Me,' the punk rock karaoke began with Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus running around the stage like a madman and screaming the lyrics to 'Nazi Punks F--- Off,' and ended with Stickles on tambourine and Damon Locks of the Eternals on vocals for 'Merchandise.' The crowd ate up every minute of the encore, jumping up and down and singing along loudly. As their set down wound down, Leo thanked the crowd repeatedly and hopped off stage. Even as the overhead lights came on, fans couldn't help but yell for a second encore, hoping for more magic from the mighty Leo.

Ted Leo on AOL Music